Today is
Sunday June 07, 2026
TEXARKANA – Texarkana Area Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,500 reward for any information that can lead to the arrest of the man wanted for shooting and injuring a mother and her 10-year-old daughter while they were sleeping in March.
According to our news partner KETK, 20-year-old Omarion Owens is wanted for multiple violent felonies in Texarkana Texas and Arkansas, including a shooting that left a mom and daughter wounded.
Officials said on March 15 around 12:30 a.m. in the 3000 block of Mason Street a mother and her 10-year-old daughter were shot while sleeping in bed leaving the mom wounded and her daughter in critical condition. “More than 60 bullets were fired into their home in the middle of the night in just 11 seconds,” the department said. Read the rest of this entry »
HENDERSON COUNTY – Our news partner, KETK, reports that a Larue man was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon after the court heard his extensive criminal history since the 1990’s.
According to the Henderson County District Attorney’s Office, Jeremy Wayne Costlow, 47 of Larue was sentenced to life in prison for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and 20 years for possession of a controlled substance after the jury found him guilty in March.
“During punishment, the court heard that Costlow’s punishment was enhanced due to his extensive criminal history and was on parole at the time of this offense,” the DA’s office said. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER – According to our news partner KETK, the Calendars Committee did not advance House Bill 2109 to be heard on the House floor. The 57-year-old bill would have ended the Marvin Nichols project to flood tens of thousands of East Texas land to supply water to the DFW metroplex.
East Texans have strong emotions about HB- 2109 being one hurdle away from a House floor hearing. Many East Texans said they called all 11 Calendars Committee members and went to the capitol to please their case even as the clock was running out. They all agree after nearly six decades on the front lines that they will not stop fighting. In the next legislative session, they are hoping another bill will be introduced to finally put a stop to the reservoir, once and for all.
The Texas Water Board is still allowing anyone to submit their comments regarding the Reservoir. The deadline is June 9.
AUSTIN – Gov. Greg Abbott has increased the reward offered for information leading to Trevor McEuen’s arrest, after a manhunt ensued earlier this month, hours before he was due in court on a murder charge.
According to our news partner KETK, the reward is up to $30,000 after Abbott, the Kaufman County Crime Stoppers and the Kaufman County Sheriff’s Office each offered $10,000 for any information that leads to McEuen’s arrest.
“I urge all Texans with information on McEuen to call the Texas Crime Stoppers hotline or submit an anonymous tip online to help law enforcement apprehend this heinous criminal. Working together, we will bring fugitives like Trevor McEuen to justice,” Abbot said.
To be eligible for the reward, people must submit their tips to Texas Crime Stoppers at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477) or online. Anyone with information will remain anonymous and should avoid apprehending McEuen as he is considered armed and dangerous. Read the rest of this entry »
POLK COUNTY — In Texas, each county jail requires a minimum ratio of one guard for every 48 inmates. According to our news partner KETK, that’s not enough for Polk County.
Sheriff Byron Lyons says, like many other jails across Texas, his jail is facing staffing shortages and overcrowding, and has now looked into exploring alternative housing options for inmates.
“The only viable in-state option was in Eagle Pass, which could accommodate 60 to 100 inmates. However, it is located approximately six hours away, one way,” Lyons said. “In contrast, the facility in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana, though out of state, is only a two-hour drive and can also house between 60 and 100 inmates. This proximity allows us to keep our inmate population centralized, rather than spread out across multiple locations.” Read the rest of this entry »
WHITEHOUSE – According to our news partner KETK, a motorcyclist died in Whitehouse following a crash with a vehicle, according to officials.
The crash occurred around 7:42 p.m. at the intersection of State Highway 110 and Acker Tap on Thursday evening, according to Nikki Simmons, the Community Outreach Coordinator for Smith County ESD2. Simmons also stated the motorcyclist died on the scene while the driver involved in the crash was transported to the hospital and their condition remains unknown.
UPSHUR COUNTY – Our news partner, KETK, reports that the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office is seeking help in finding a missing woman who has not been seen since last week.
According to the sheriff’s office, 31-year-old Maria ‘Mary’ De La Cruz was last seen on May 8. Her family has not had any contact with her since her disappearance, but has located her car and belongings.
Anyone with any information about De La Cruz’s potential whereabouts is asked to contact investigator Rob Bowen at 903-680-8223.
TYLER – According to our news partner, KETK, a missing persons investigation is underway for a 28-year-old man last seen on Friday.
The Tyler Police Department said Donte Matlock-Landon, of Tyler, was last seen at around 6:30 p.m. at a residence in the 700 block of Bennett Avenue. He is described as 6 feet, 3 inches tall, with a slim build, brown eyes and short, black dreadlock hair.
Officials said he was last seen wearing black/white shorts and a black hoodie.
Anyone who has seen or knows his whereabouts is asked to contact the police department at 903-531-1000.
LONGVIEW – UPDATE: According to the Longview Police Department, Frank Eliseo Barrientos, who was wanted for aggravated robbery, is now in custody.
ORIGINAL STORY: According to the department, they are looking for 32-year-old Frank Eliseo Barrientos who is five feet and 10 inches tall and weighs around 170 pounds. Barrientos has short black hair, brown eyes, has a scar around his right eye and multiple tattoos.
Officials said Barrientos has an outstanding warrant for aggravated robbery, is considered armed and dangerous and shouldn’t be approached.
TYLER– According to our news partner KETK, the Texas House is considering a bill that would create a single health permit for all Texas food truck applicants, replacing a process that differs in each county.
For operators in the city of Tyler and Smith County, Net Health approves the yearly permits. The two-step process involves an application, fire marshal approval, and a preliminary inspection. If voted on and approved Bill 2844 could bring “major change” to the process.
The bill is currently under consideration and on the agenda for Texas House lawmakers. However, the deadline is near; if it is not heard on the House floor by the end of Thursday, its chances of passing will close this session.
TYLER – The Tyler NAACP President Lisa Williams spoke with KETK on Tuesday about videos of the recent arrest of Brianna Erwin, which have been making rounds on social media.
In 10 seconds of body camera footage released by Tyler PD, an officer can be heard saying, “Let go of my gun” just before the officer’s gun went off in it’s holster. Tyler PD said Erwin was then struck with a closed-hand by an officer in an attempt to avoid further escalation. Erwin was transported to the Smith County Jail where Williams met with her on Monday.
Body cam footage video below:
“I visited her May the 12th, once I saw the video on social media,” Williams said. “I reposted the video because I didn’t know who it was and that was my main concern. Who was she?”
During her visit with Erwin, Williams said she learned that Erwin wasn’t pregnant as she was heard stating in videos of her arrest. Read the rest of this entry »
TYLER — The Tyler Police Department’s Chief of Police spoke to our news partner KETK News on Wednesday after releasing bodycam footage of an altercation between one of their officers and a woman who allegedly discharged the officer’s gun while it remained in his holster.
According to a release from the department, officers responded to a theft call at a Dollar General. The situation then escalated when one of the suspects, Brianna Erwin, allegedly resisted arrest, causing an altercation to ensue. In a bodycam video released by the department, an officer says, “Let go of my gun” before the gun is discharged.
Tyler PD Chief Jimmy Toler spoke with KETK to clear the air and answer the public’s questions. “I can tell you from the point that we hire an individual, whether they attend our academy or they attend another academy that we’ve approved of, they receive hundreds and hundreds of hours of how to be a police officer including arrest control tactics, use of force procedures, all that,” Toler said. “Then annually, as they come back to us, they do all their qualifications and recertification. They do advanced use of force, they do use of force training here. It is something we take very seriously.” Read the rest of this entry »
LONGVIEW – According to our news partner KETK, a Longview ISD student was arrested after allegedly making continuous threats while off campus.
The Longview Police Department was made aware of the threats on Wednesday and charged the student with Terrorist Threat, a third-degree felony. The student was then taken to the Gregg County Juvenile Detention Center.
“The Longview Police Department remains committed to thoroughly investigating all threats made toward or on school campuses,” Longview PD said. ” Appropriated charges will be pursued in every case to ensure the safety of students.”
Anyone who may know of any suspicious activity is asked to contact Longview PD at 903-237-1199 to ensure the safety and security of all students and staff.
TYLER – Our news partner, KETK, reports that STAAR testing could soon hear its final bell as Texas. As lawmakers move toward overhauling the annual exams, educators and parents alike say they fully support its end.
“The STAAR test is very stressful for small kids,” East Texas parent, Jourdan Ballou said. “Knowing that if you don’t pass the STAAR test, you cannot go to the next grade.”
House Bill 4 would change the test format from one test that lasts hours, to three exams taken over the year. Several school districts are also showing their support. Tyler ISD superintendent Dr. Marty Crawford said the district is excited the bill passed the house and that they had a hand in its creation. Parents, too, believe the move would also help reduce their children’s test anxiety.
“I would support it because it would give them a chance to prepare the kids for not one big test but rather smaller tests,” East Texas parent James Sholar said. Read the rest of this entry »
TITUS COUNTY – According to a report from our news partner KETK, an affidavit reveals that a man has been arrested after sexually assaulting a minor at a hotel in Mount Pleasant.
On April 23, the Titus County Sheriff’s Office was assigned to an aggravated sexual assault of a child case that occurred in January 2022. The following day, the victim participated in a forensic interview.
During the interview, the child said she was nine or 10-years-old when she was sexually assaulted in the parking lot of a hotel in Mount Pleasant. She identified the suspect as Camilo Hernandez Jr., and provided more details on the assault.
On Monday, officials interviewed Hernandez, who allegedly “admitted to having had sex [with the victim] when she was nine or 10-years-old. Hernandez justified this act by stating [the victim] had come on to him.”
Following the interview, Hernandez was arrested and booked into the Titus County Jail without incident.